Burntside Adventures: Almost to the Chesapeake

It's been a while since I updated the blog. Lots of adventures since then. At the last post, we had crossed from the Bahamas and re entered the US at Fort Pierce at a favorite anchorage at Faber's Cove on Sunday March 31. We ordered a new motor for the windlass to be delivered to Titusville and headed north on Monday April 1. First stop was on the Banana River just north of the Mather's bridge, off the ICW a mile or so, but protected and a neat spot we had been to before. A paddler's training center is there, mainly rowers, crew, high kneelers and kayaks. The next day proceeded to Titusville for 2 nights waiting for the windlass motor, and I spent my time disassembling and removing the entire windlass, a difficult process, but once disassembled, the gears all looked good, but the motor brushes and magnets were in pieces. In the mean time, we rented a car from Enterprise, reprovisioned for the next 3 weeks or so, went to the Playalinda Brewery and to Dixie Crossroads for shrimp and grits. Bob423 was staying in the marina, the guru of the ICW shallows and a great resource with his internet postings on Active Captain and The Waterway Guide. I went over, introduced myself and shook his hand, thanking him for his knowledge. Thursday morning the UPS guy delivered the new motor and it took a couple of hours to get it put back together and re installed the windlass. We left around 2 pm nd moved north 20 miles or so to an anchorage at Mosquito Lagoon. It was then on to St. Augustine and a mooring ball for a night, then outside at the St. Augustine inlet for a long day to Brunswick. It was a nice outside cruise, with shrimp boats keeping us company but at the end of the afternoon, a thunderstorm moved in as we entered the Brunswick entrance. Lots of lightning and rain. We put the portable electonics in the microwave, it is supposed to protect them in case of a strike. Made with no issues however. Sunday April 7, we continued outside on a long haul to Beaufort, SC, bypassing a bunch of shallows on the ICW, and just inside the Beaufort inlet is a great anchorage we had used a couple of times before. Monday we stopped at Beauforts free dock, for a visit to the historic old town area, some ice cream and a burger. As we ascended the Ashapoo Riiver area, a boat we had met last fall passed us, "Glory Days", friends of the Janacek's, and also loopers. We talked on the radio for a bit and caught up. That night we anchored 15 miles into the Ashapoo cuts and before the Dawho shallows. Tuesday we pushed on passed Charleston to an anchorage just before the McClellanville shallows. We got through the shallows Wednesday morning and then stopped at the Georgetown docks to pick up shrimp before ascending the Waccamaw River and stopping at Osprey Marina for fuel, a pump out and a night's stay. It's a hole in the wall marina just south of Myrtle Beach, and another neat spot. Cindy got a run in and I got a good paddle in the swamps before leaving Thursday morning April 11. We thought abot going outside again at Little River, but this time I figured we would save time on the inside, and went on to the Cape Fear River, and Tina's Pocket anchorage. From there it was on to Swansboro for a night, then a night at a new anchorage at the top of Goose Creek where it poured and once again we were inundated by the midges. We left there yesterday morning crossing the Pamlico sound, Alligator Riiver and finally Albemarle Sound with the knowldge that it was going to blow like crazy and if we didn't get across yesterday we might have to wait it out. Last night we pulled into the Coinjock Marina after a 100 mil day. Had the prime rib last night and pulled out this morning only to have to turn around and redock. Because of the rain last night and the big south wind, the water level in the river is way up and the bridges north of here, between here and the Chesapeake are all closed at least until noon tomorrow. We are less than 50 miles from Norfolk but are stuck here until the bridges reopen. We are way ahead of schedule, so holing up for the day is not a big deal, and I'll get my nap in this afternoon. It's a nice but blustery day. Cindy ran and I biked and we will do boat chores this afternoon and hopefully move on in the morning.